Civil whipping is more severe

THE recent decision of the Syariah High Court of Terengganu to whip two females has raised criticisms within and outside Malaysia. The sentence was carried out in accordance with the Syariah Criminal Procedure (Terengganu) Enactment 2001. While this sentence and its execution is not the first of its kind in the country, diverse opinions were expressed by politicians as well as by Muslim and non-Muslim activists.

Some contended that the execution of the sentence has not portrayed the sympathetic image of justice in Islam while others argued that all kinds of corporal punishment are harsh and barbaric and have long-lasting physical and/or psychological effects.